Lamp



Aug. 12, 177941.

C. E. MEYERHOEFER LAMP Filed Jan, 28, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1A ATTO R N EYS Aug. 12, 1941. c. E. MEYERHOEFER LAMP Filed Jan. 28, 1939 2, Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UITED STATES PATET OFFICE LAMP Application January 28, 1939, Serial No. 253,396

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved housing capable of use in numerous different associations but primarily intended for employment as a lamp housing and especially that type of lamp which is associated with vehicles such as bicycles.

It is an object of the inventionto furnish a unitary article of this nature and within which a special form of switch mechanism will be included, this mechanism being practically free from the possibility of failures, and nevertheless being capable of being produced at a relatively nominal ligure.

A further object of the invention is that of furnishing a housing substantially all parts of which may be manufactured by quantity production machines and methods so that the entire unit may be cheaply produced.

An additional object is that of furnishing a housing which will contain a source of electrical power, such as a dry cell or cells and in which these elements will be effectively supported against shock or displacement so that no damage to the parts will result.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets oi' drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side View of the housing showing a battery cell and bulb in position therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the parts as shown in g Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4. are transverse sectional views `taken respectively along the lines 3-3 and 4 4,

and in the direction ofthe arrows as indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a slightly different form of housing;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 and in the direction of the.

a tight joint between these portions may be furnished by, for example, extending the edges I2 of the upper portion outwardly and downwardly so as to overlap' the adjacent edgeA portions of the lower part of the housing.

A cell I3 may-be disposed within the housing and with a view to properly supporting this cell, a spring strip I4 may be secured to the upper housing portion as, for example, by a rivet I5. This strip Vpreferably presents inwardly extending parts It `continued in the form of arcuate portions Il, having a curvature such that they snugly embrace the side fac-e, of cell I3. These arcuate portions are preferably continued in the form of upwardly and outwardly extending legs I3 which contact the interior face of the housing portion so as to brace the spring strip. Thus, the cell is normally held in contact with the interior face of the lower housing portion I I, and as shown in Fig. 1; but at the same time it will be understood that in the event of jars and shocks occurring, the spring strip I4 will cushion this element.

Adjacent its rear end, the lower portion II of the housing may mount a spring strip I9 as, for example, by a rivet 23. The end of this strip may extend upwardly within the housing and bear against the end terminal of cell I3 so as to constantly urge the same forwardly and to also cushion such cell against axial shocks. The strip is conveniently extended in la rearward direction beyond rivet 2i! and resiliently mounts a pin 2l which may be extended through an opening 22 formed in the downwardly extending flange I2 of the upper portionlll, to thus couple the housing portions to leach other.

Adjacent its forward end, housing portion Iii terminates in 'an inwardly extending flange 23. This ange is formed with openings through which prongs or projecting portions 24 of a bezel 25 may extend, such bezel serving to clamp against the flange Ia transparent member 26 which may be formed of any desired material, and .embody any suitable color aside from the fact that it is preferably hemispherical in shape. To this end and as is shown, the member 26 may have an outwardly extending flange 21 which projects between the inwardly extending edge of bezel 25 andthe outer face of flange 23 so that the parts are retained in position.

Similarly, housing portion Il is provided with a iiange 28 which is perforated as indicated at 29. This flange is formed with rearwardly extending projections or prongs 30 passing through perforations in the flange 32 of reflector shell 3I .so as to secure the latter against displacement with respect to the housing portion. This flange 32 lies intimately in contact with the interior face of iiange 28 and the flange is preferably formed with notches 32 to accommodate the tongues or prongs 24. At this time it is also to be noted that bezel 25 is formed with a prong or extended portion 33 suitable for entrance through perforation 29.

Consequently, it will be observed that one housing portion (i. `e. Il) mounts, for example, the reflector while the second housing portion mounts the lens or covering member 26. Additionally it will be noted that by simply bringing these housing portions to a position adjacent each other and inserting prong 33 through opening 29 a hinge structure is furnished and the rear ends of the housing portions may be swung towards each other to cause edge portions l2 to overlap the adjacent housing edges of portion Ii. This action may be continued until pin 2| passes through opening 22 and thereupon the parts are locked to provide a complete enclosure or housing.

Reector 3| is formed at its base with an opening within which the threaded stem 34 of a bulb 35 projects. This stem is, of course, retained against movement with respect to the housing and at this time it will be noted that there may be riveted or otherwise secured to the lower housing portion Il, a strip 35 of a conguration such that it may readily be applied to a mudguard or other curved surface upon which the assembly is to be mounted.

Now, with a view to furnishing a switch structure, it will be observed that lower housing portion Il is formed with a pair of upwardly extending ears 36 which support between them a shaft 37. Mounted upon the latter is a strip of di-electric material 33 in the form of a bellcrank with one of its arms projecting through an opening in housing portion H. The end of the inner arm may present tapered faces so as to furnish cam surfaces for cooperation with the base of cell I3. In any event, with the parts arranged as shown, spring I9 in addition to aifording a shock absorbing mounting, will normally urge the cell upwardly toward the bulb. One of the terminals of the cell is grounded through this strip and the housing and through the latter to the stem of the bulb.

However, contact between the b-ase terminal of the bulb stem and the base of the cell is prevented when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 because bell-crank element 38 has been moved past dead center and will act as a stop preventing inward movement of the cell. With this element rocked--through approximately ninety degrees-the cell will be free under the urging of spring I9, to move forward. In such a position, it will contact the base terminal of the bulb and the latter will be energized. Obviously, the circuit may be interrupted by simply returning the parts to their initial position by again swinging element SS.

In the form of unit shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the casing portion 39 is enlarged to provide a substantially elongated housing such that a pair of cells 4i) may be accommodated within the same. Moreover, a pair of spring strips di may be furnished to individually guide and support the cells. The latter are urged by spring 42 to shift towards the bulb-reflector-lens assembly 43 and are restrained by an actuator or switch element 44. The latter may be swung as described in connection with element 38 to permit of the circuit being completed through the lamp.

A unit of this type is preferably employed as a headlight, whereas the unit shown in Figs. l to 4 is preferably employed as a taillight. It is for the reason that additional illumination is required that the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has been restored to. Obviously the housing might be further elongated to accommodate any desired number of cells, and likewise the mounting of the unit might be modified as desired.

This mounting as shown preferably includes an extended part i5 forming a part of the lower portion of the housing and the base. This extended part has its lower face in the form of two angular projecting surfaces which are formed with openings to receive the shanks of bolts 41. A layer of metal 46 in the form of a V-shaped fitting is also disposed adjacent to the lower face of the extended part 45 and this layer or fitting is formed with openings which will freely permit of the passage of bolts 41. It will be apparent und-er these circumstances that fitting 46 will serve as a re-enforcement for the lower portion of the housing and will rigidify the same against any distorting infiuence such as would occur when the unit is mounted upon an angular member such as the handle bar 4g of a bicycle.

Where such a mounting is proposed, a yoke 4S is furnished, the ends of which are preferably angularly extended and are provided with openings threaded to receive and be engaged by the threads of bolts All. Additionally, the yoke may be formed with indentations 5i) so that as the parts are tightened there will be no danger of the yoke or the unit moving with respect to the rod or tube 49.

When it is desired to mount the unit on the mudguard, fender, or other similar portion of a vehicle, this -may readily be achieved by simply discarding yoke 48 and employing in lieu of bolts 41, similar bolts which, however, are of greater diameter so that their threads will engage the threads' which are formed in the openings provided in layer or fitting d5. Such an arrangement has been illustrated in Fig. '7 wherein the fender is illustrated at 53 and the extended part -of the casing has been identified by the numeral 5l. After drilling openings in the mounting surface 53 the casing` unit is positioned thereon and the bolts 52 are extended through these openings and are caused to engage fitting 54 which has been applied to the inner face of the fender. Thereupon by simply tightening the bolts 52 after introducing their end portions into the openings of the fitting, the unit may be rigidly mounted upon the fender and under these circumstances it is apparent that the parts will be properly and rigidly supported.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that among others the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described including a hollow casing comprising longitudinally extending sections forming an upper and a lower casing portion respectively, said casing being adapted to receive a cell, a spring comprising a resilient body, means for securing said body at a point intermediate its ends to one of said sections whereby one end ci the saine may bear against the cell to yieldingly support the same, a latch element secured to the opposite end of said spring body and the other section of said casing being formed with an opening the edge of which is adapted to be engaged by said latch element.

2. An apparatus of the character described including a hollow casing adapted to receive an electrical cell of cylindrical configuration, the internal diameter of said casing being materially greater than the diameter of said cell, and a spring strip secured to the interior of said casing and extending transversely of the saine and of said cell and at a point intermediate the ends of said casing,

portions and to contact said cell, and outwardly extending portions beyond said curved portions and :to contact with the inner face of said casing. 3. A unit of the character decribed including in combination a casing presenting a hollow body adapted to receive a longitudinally movable electrical cell, means for mounting an electric current consuming element in association with said casing, a spring carried by said casing and acting against said cell to normally urge the same into electrical contact with said consuming element, a pair of inwardly extending ears forming a part of said casing, a shaft mounted between said ears, and a bell crank lever pivotally supported by said shaft and having one arm extending beyond the outer casing face, the second arm of said lever being adapted to be swung by manipulation of said rst arm to a position at which its aXis extends in a plane beyond the perpendicular with reference to said cell whereby to shift the latter against the urging of said spring and to maintain said cell out of electrical contact with said consuming element, said bell crank lever being wholly formed of di-electric material, and the end of such second arm presenting cell contacting edges in the form of cam surfaces.

CARL E. MEYERI-IOEFER. 

